The Administration strongly supports enactment of H.J.Res. 36, which would
allow funds appropriated for international population programs for fiscal year
1997 to be obligated and expended beginning March 1, 1997, instead of July 1,
1997. The President determined that a delay in the release of these funds
until July "will cause serious, irreversible and avoidable harm [and in] the
balance are the lives and well-being of many thousands of women and children
and American credibility as the leader in family planning programs around the
world."

The attached January 31st "Statement by the President on USAID Funds for
International Family Planning" addresses more fully the important reasons why
these funds should be released beginning on March 1, 1997.